by Alex Dire
Down the alley, an echo of motion betrayed the last hiding man. She strode toward the sound. Perhaps she’d satisfy her hunger, yet.
6
Ground Rules
Norman and the nymphs stared at the TV in the condo. The News Four logo hovered over the bottom of the screen with the word “exclusive” splashed next to it. The shaky cell phone footage played out Felicia’s encounter with the thugs from earlier in the evening.
Norman watched as his progeny plied her acrobatics against the men and easily made short work of them. He watched her feed on one, and then walk to the back of the alley. The image was too dark to make out what happened next, but Norman knew.
The scene shifted to a reporter at the mouth of the alley. A young man stood next to him. “It seems the attack by this unknown vampire was unprovoked.” The shot cut to police lights flashing, and EMT’s running around the alley in confusion. A man sat on the back bumper of an ambulance. “We were walking home from the bar. We passed this alley and she leapt out at us. We didn’t know she was a vampire. We ran in to help Trevor but she was so strong.” The man bled from his forehead and held a white gauze pad over one arm.
The reporter filled the screen. “Eight men were injured in this attack, two critically. They’re in intensive care right now and expected to recover. Back to the studio.”
Norman flicked off the TV. “Do you know how hard this makes it for us?” Norman shot a stern glance at Felicia. He stepped toward her, towering over her small figure. He couldn't believe she'd screwed up so badly.
“They attacked me!” Felicia shot up from her seat, spine straight.
Norman knew she was telling the truth. He always knew. “It doesn’t matter. I had hoped that you, of all the vampires left out there, could help show we need not be feared.” He looked to each of their eyes.
Felicia’s forehead tensed. “They jumped me from that alley. Not the other way around. They had stakes and guns and other weapons. My life was in danger.”
“Wait. They had wood?” said Norman.
“Yes.”
“Mr. Bernard, I think you need to take it easy on Felicia,” said Declan with what might pass for gallantry.
Felicia looked at him, annoyed.
“Not just a gang of thugs,” said Tyreese.
“How do you know?” said Cindy.
“Thugs don’t carry wood.”
Darius was right. Norman thought through the scenario. “They weren’t thugs. They were vigilantes.”
“See?” said Felicia, “They were going to stake me.”
“And claim their prize,” said Tyreese.”
Norman found Tyreese to be unusually talkative this evening. He seemed to have an insight into this incident in the streets. “What do you mean?”
“It’s turf,” said Tyreese. “The gangs will make symbols of each other for crossing turf.”
Norman looked waiting for more.
“Now we’re on their turf. She’s the symbol. The prize.”
“I’m glad you didn’t let them win,” said Declan.
Frustration grew in Norman’s chest like a tide. No. No. Didn't they see? Felicia had put them all in greater danger. “They have won,” said Norman.
“Fuck they did,” said Macmanus. “I just watched Felicia kick the shiite out of ‘em in a few seconds. All they won was a trip to the hospital and a month of scabs and welts.”
The nymphs all nodded in agreement. Norman even detected a hint of pride. Teens could be so unreasonable.
“No,” said Norman. “All you saw on that screen was Felicia displaying her power over assholes who wanted to kill her. I know she’s more powerful than them. We all know. We could walk out that door and do serious damage to the people out there. That’s no question. But that’s what they fear.”
“Pyrrhus,” said Cindy.
The group looked to her.
“Who?” said Declan.
Felicia shook her head. “Pyrrhus. You’re saying that I won the fight in the alley, but I’m losing the war.”
“If we make them more afraid of us,” said Norman, “more vigilante squads will form. Just look at that news report. You made those bangers look downright sympathetic. Our lives just got harder.”
The nymphs all looked down. This lesson was a hard one. The nymphs would need to learn to live out in the world without inciting fear. A difficult path to chart for a vampire. After all, they drank blood to survive.
“We need ground rules,” said Norman. “No more fighting. Never. Not once.”
Felicia lifted her head “But, Mr. Bernard.”
“No buts. We have to do the opposite of what you did in that alley tonight. We have to show that we’re just regular people trying to live ordinary lives.”
“But we’re not,” said Tyreese.
Of course, he was right. “Look. We only have a few options now. Our secret…the vampire secret has been difficult to contain for some time. Now that its out, we have to control it.”
Tyreese let a single spasm of laughter escape. Norman got his meaning.
“We have no choice. We’re strong, but we are few. Despite our strength, we can’t fight our way out of this one.”
“I don’t like it,” said Macmanus. “In my experience, the only thing that’s saved me over the years is kicking arse now and then.”
“And how did that always end?” asked Norman.
“Eh…” said Macmanus. “With bodies. Sometimes pitchforks. It was messy, but it worked...sort of.”
“Exactly. Messy. Except now messy means dead for us.”
“What if we’re attacked?” said Macmanus.
“Run,” said Norman.
“That’s shiite. There’s barely any of us left. We’ve got one thing over them.” He held up his fists and displayed his teeth.
Norman
Norman's face grew grim. This man was much older than the nymphs but nearly as adolescent mentally. This attitude could get them all killed. Norman would have to tame him, too. He stared into Macmanus' eyes, holding his gaze. The teacher look. “Macmanus, you’ve become one of us, but if you want to stay, you’ve got to follow my rules.”
“I’ve been alone before.”
“Before was different.”
Macmanus sat back in his chair, breathing through his nose.
Norman looked to Felicia.
She watched Macmanus for a moment. He looked up at Norman and nodded. His breathing slowed and became quieter.
Felicia sat back down as well but didn’t look Norman’s way.
“Then it’s agreed,” said Norman. “No fighting.”
Felicia then seemed to spark back up. She snapped a glance at Norman, opening her mouth to speak.
Norman cut her off. “Besides, you wanted to remain secret anyway.”
She hesitated.
“The only reason you weren’t revealed to the world in that video is because it was too dark and shaky to see your face.” Norman let it sink in. “You’re lucky. You can’t count on that forever.”
The nymphs all looked to Felicia. Her mouth twisted and frowned. She fell back into her chair, arms crossed.
The rest of the room exhaled in relief. Except for Tyreese.
“And you, Tyreese,” said Norman.
“I do what I have to do. Always have.”
Tyreese looked towards Felicia as if asking a question He was her creation. Norman sensed the tugging of the bond between them.
“Alright then.” Tyreese’s gaze sunk to the floor.
For now, they nymphs would stay out of the spotlight. Perhaps it was better they hadn’t wanted to come out to the world, yet. They weren't ready .
Felicia would be loyal. He could be sure of that. And the others would follow her lead. Their blood would see to it. The connection of that blood would be a powerful force in their lives for a long time. Thank you, Felicia. They'd be safe.
Yes, secret was best for now.
7
Blow-up
Felicia sa
t in silence with the others in a solemn circle at a cafeteria table nibbling on what passed for food that night. She didn’t need it. It didn’t satisfy her. It didn’t even taste good. School food never had.
Felicia would obey Mr. Bernard as always. It was so hard to do otherwise. Every time she tried to resist, he pulled her. She barely understood the connection between them. It was as if a part of her tugged her will in a different direction. Some day she would try harder.
The fight in the alley was unnecessary. She could have avoided those thugs. But the blood. It was so good. In that moment, when she was so close, it was impossible to resist. The blood’s temptation was greater because she was fighting for it. It had made her want to fight more. And those whiskers.
A vague tingle in her brain interrupted Felicia’s thoughts. It reminded her of the feeling she had just before she’d passed the Alley the night before. It was barely there. If she hadn’t been so still and quiet, she might have missed it. But now…Danger.
She broke her trance and looked up at the others. They showed no signs of the disturbance she felt.
She looked around the cafeteria at the tables of disorderly students consuming snacks. Many laughed. Some threw bits of trash back and forth across the table. A few sat alone and worked through their math texts. One table of students, though, huddled together around something. They pointed at the center of their little circle and whispered. She listened.
“That’s her,” said one.
“I know that kid,” said another.
A few of them turned and looked toward Felecia’s table. When their eyes met hers, they quickly turned back.
“Don’t look. Don’t look,” she heard whispered from the little ring of students.
Danger. Again, it nagged at her. What the hell were they looking at?
She rose and took confident strides to the table.
This grabbed the attention of her comrades who looked up from their snacks and tracked her across the room. Declan sat up straight.
As she reached the other table, she could see that they had gathered around a laptop. She saw the screen. It was a web site. “Vamp files” was scrawled across the top in a fake bloody font. An enlarged photo was splashed across the screen depicting a fuzzy, pixilated image of Felicia fighting what was clearly a green Cornelius on the White House lawn. The student clicked through a series of photos, showing similar low-res pictures of some of the other nymphs. She prayed it was too fuzzy for them to recognize her.
One turned again and saw her standing there. “Hey!”
Another snapped the laptop closed.
“What do you want?” said the boy with his hand on the computer.
Two of the teens eased back, eyes darting in fear. They know. In any normal school, they’d all back off in the face of a real-life monster. But this was Night School. Pride dominated fear. Three students grabbed sharpened pencils. They were puny weapons, but would do the trick if they hit their mark. Two others produced short home-made stakes from pockets inside their jackets. Metal detectors would not protect the nymphs against the weapons that mattered most.
“We know what you are. Why don’t you go back to your table? Nothing for you here,” said one of the youths.
Felicia knew she should just go back, but the taunt, the affront. She couldn’t resist. Her blood ran hot. She smelled the red liquid coursing through the veins of these students. She could wipe them all out in moments, despite their wooden weapons. She was fast. She was trained. She didn’t have to take this. Besides. Her people were at her back.
She remembered Norman’s command. Time clicked by slowly as her anger waged war with her loyalty. Even in his absence, his will tugged on hers. She should back off. But the aggression these young men displayed pulled back at her. Men would never dominate her again Not like this. But Mr. Bernard. Damn him. Her rage faded to frustration. This was an empty threat. Not worth making matters worse.
Felicia leaned forward. The group collectively lurched back. She honed her focus and saw the orbs. Wills waiting to be grasped. She reached out to the boy who’d spoken.
“Call them off,” she said.
The boy’s resolve faded. “It’s alright.” The students looked back and forth for each other’s reaction. “She’s cool.”
They put their make-shift weapons away and sat back around the table.
“Nice talking to you,” said Felicia, turning to walk back to her table. All the nymphs, now standing, sat back down.
Norman pondered the map once again. He traced its maze-like paths and tunnels, looking for meaning. Perhaps the very layout of the tubes and twists meant something. He rotated it in his hands.
Just then, the door flew open. Felicia stormed in with a flustered Ms. Sperry following in her wake. Moments later, the rest of the nymphs flowed in.
“I tried to stop her and ring you, Mr. Bernard,” said Ms. Sperry.
Felicia crashed down in the seat opposite Norman’s desk.
“It’s okay, Ms. Sperry. Thank you very much,” said Norman.
She left the room and closed the door.
“Was that really necessary?” asked Norman.
“They know,” said Felicia.
The rest of the nymphs pulled up chairs and sat around the desk.
“What?”
“There are pictures of us. Fighting at the White House.” Felicia breathed hard and quick. “There’s a whole web site.”
Norman looked to Macmanus. He was much older than the others and would probably add some perspective. Macmanus nodded.
“That’s unfortunate,” said Norman. I was just getting used to the idea of keeping you secret. He'd hoped to delay this moment as long as possible, but there was no point now. The secret was trickling out. Best to get ahead of it. “We have no choice now. You have to live among them. No more hiding.”
Felicia’s breathing slowed. “Mr. Bernard, I had this feeling. I felt it last night too, in the alley.”
Norman wondered if any of any of the others would have his extra danger sense.
Declan snapped a glance at her.
“Danger. I felt it,” said Felicia.
“And the rest of you?” Norman met their eyes.
They looked for each other’s reactions and shook their heads
“What’s this?” said Macmanus.
“Curious,” said Norman.
The phone on the desk buzzed. Norman clicked a button.
“Mr. Bernard?” Ms. Sperry’s voice came through the speaker. “Can you please come out here?”
“I’ll be out in a little while, I need to talk to these students.”
“Mr. Bernard. It’s an emergency.” Her voice quivered.
“Don’t move.” Norman pointed to Felicia and making brief eye contact with each Nymph.
He exited his office and stood before the front desk. “Well, what is it?”
Ms. Sperry's eyes glistened. She raised a hand, covering her mouth.
8
Phys. Ed
Norman faced the lockers. The locker room had been cleared of students, but the post-PE sweat smell hung in the air. Spray painted across five closed lockers were the words. “Die vamp scum.” There was a symbol at the end, a circle with a “V” in it. The letter exceeded the borders of the circle. A slash cut diagonally through the V.
Norman had hoped to contain this type of reaction. Before today, it would only apply to him, but now…
“Call a custodian,” said Norman. “Have them clean this off immediately.”
Dean Hadly grunted. “They’re popping up everywhere. Should I have them scour the building?”
Norman’s lips tightened like fists. “I don't know if anti-vampire slurs count under the law, but hate speech is hate speech.” He snapped his glance and flashed anger at Hadly. “Yes! And do it right now.”
The dean’s face displayed no fear, but Norman could feel it. No need to scare the man. This wasn’t his fault.
Hadly flinched to a familiar click and electronic
buzz of the intercom. “Mr. Bernard, please report to the office.” Fuzz and cracking made Ms. Sperry’s usually pleasant voice sound grating.
What now?
Minutes later, Norman arrived at the office. It was empty except for Ms. Sperry.
“Where are the students who were in here? I instructed them to wait for me,” he said.
Ms. Sperry looked confused. “The PE teacher called then down to the gym. I thought he was with you.”
“The replacement called? Mr. Harrison?”
“No, the replacement for the replacement.”
Norman didn’t know this new teacher. Sometimes positions turned over so quickly he just wasn't in the loop. He pressed against the front desk.
Ms. Sperry’s eyes grew wide, and she eased back.
Norman recognized her fear. “What? No, I…” He turned and dashed out the door, sprinting through the halls toward the gym, not caring to hide his incredible speed. The double door loomed shut at the end of the corridor. As he neared, he smelled it. Dog.
Norman slowed and smelled. What the hell? He pushed at the doors. They resisted. Locked. Norman wondered why for half an instant. Then he heard the screams.
He shoved hard and the doors burst open with splintering wood and metal pieces flying into the gym.
Norman sucked in the scene in an instant. Declan lay against bleachers to the left. His intestines lay strewn on the ground in a massive pool of blood. Red liquid oozed from his mouth as he labored to breathe. Macmanus was trying to shove the boys guts back into his gaping abdomen.
Felicia lay unconscious again a concrete wall. Chips of paint and concrete lay about her limp body.
Tyreese was doubled over, blood streaming from his throat.
Cindy and Darius were the only two fighting. They were covered in scratches. Three grown men, one in a track suit with a whistle dangling from his neck scratched and punched at them. Norman could smell it strong now. These were no men.
Norman rushed into the fray, gripping the nearest from behind. He bit down into the werewolf’s neck tearing out a huge hunk. The large beast in man form let out a half growl, half scream.